stevens pass backcountry ski

2021/05/21

When looking at these graphs, the safest region to ski is often obvious. The road grade eventually benches out near an old chair lift, and from here you can skin south to access short shots through the glades or continue east along the bench. On the western edge of the lake is a small village called Holden which is nestled in the mountains and this days a church retreat. Each year he would have a new zone that was his interest of the year. Looking for help regarding your season pass, Epic Pass, or online account?

Thank you for taking the time to check out this page and hopefully it gave you some inspiration for some new ski tours in Stevens Pass and beyond.

If you're spending time skiing in the area for a weekend, consider staying at our, Green Trails Alpine Lakes West (Stevens Pass) No. Access your exclusive Epic Pass holder savings, including 20% off food, lodging, lessons, rentals, and more with Epic Mountain Rewards. Click on the different links for Stevens Pass, Blewett Pass, and Mission Ridge. This might be a good tweener day up Icicle Canyon where the 6 to 7 inches of new snow on Eightmile Peak or Cannon Mountain may be the right mix of lower slide hazard but higher snow quality. Well spend about a week back home then were on the road again, or in the sky. Bonanza PeakGoode MountainMaude and Seven Fingered JackExtended Ptarmagin TraverseSuiattle TraverseMount Fernow. His movement is directed across the center of the frame rather than away from it.

Until you really know your stuff, when the hazard hits 4 (high) or 5(extreme), opt to downhill ski or Nordic ski on a groomed trail system. Get full access to Outside Learn, our online education hub featuring in-depth fitness, nutrition, and adventure courses and more than 2,000 instructional videos when you sign up for Outside+

This includes side trips, extensions Happy New Year! Sorry about the headache and a full version can be seen on desktop. Stillwater National Wildlife Refuge, Nevada. At Blewett Pass, however, the new snow may measure-in at 6 inches, making the new snow far more manageable for covering distance and moderating the avalanche hazard. Finally focusing on in Holden Village and the Mountain Loop Highway. The low elevation doesnt allow for snow that often but you are surrounded by high mountains. The east-facing gladed slopes that drop off the right side range from mellow to moderate-perfect for all levels. Deep Snow, Old-Growth Trees and Classic Northwest Descents. Guests will start the day by snowmobiling to the base of the day's objective, where they will then use alpine touring gear or splitboardsto climb to the top and ski down for as many laps as the day allows. Since you are on a Mobile Phone I have the trips listed above the Images.Sorry about the headache and a full version can be seen on desktop, Kyes Peak via the Pride GlacierCircumnavigation of Columbia Peak. With so much powder, I ended up on the DPS most days. NCMG has been offering snowmobile-accessed backcountry in Washingtonfor almost 20 years and we are excited to offer this opportunity to skiers in the Stevens Pass area. We'll cover as much of it as possible over coming months. However, if daytime temperatures have been warm, the slopes around Stevens may be gloppy or even crusty. Its about nourishment and learning. We promise not to annoy you, but if you wish, you may unsubscribe at any time. Best wishes for the new year. Jove? Learn more about how to apply the principles of Leave No Trace on your next outdoor adventure, Sno-Park Parking Permit (required in OR + WA 11.01 thru 04.30). On almost any given winter or spring day, the diversity of ski countries found here in Central Washington allow you to 1)lower your avalanche exposure and 2)find enjoyable snow conditions.

Perfect. This whole region From Cardinal Peak in the Chelans to Goode out of Stehekin is a wild area. I have a pair myself this year and think they might be in the running for best quiver of one from October to July!!! Rock MountainRock, Howard and Mastif Traverse, Camping in the ChiwaukumsBig Chiwaukum Couloir, Cardinal PeakSeven Fingered JackBlack Hole CouloirChocolate Glacier Glacier PeakTenpeak MountainDakobed Traverse. Depending on weather and conditions we can stick close to the Cascade Crest where you will find the deepest snow and amazing tree skiing as well as some bigger mountain descents. While it is helpful to have a Level 1 avalanche course under your belt, each tour will begin with an avalanche safety briefing and practice session for all of our guests. Farm the gentle north-facing slopes off the summit and youll end up on the open runs of the old ski area. As a very general rule when the hazard is rated 2 (moderate) or 3 (considerable), smart tour selection and terrain usage (sticking to forests and ridges, choosing aspects registering lower hazard, choosing elevation levels with lower hazard, etc.) Lou thanks for the great trip reports. THE GOODS: Because of its proximity to the ski area, Skyline Ridge is a popular but worthy spot for yo-yoing: From the maintenance road behind the electric substation in the corner of the lot, it takes a half-hour to 45 minutes to gain the ridge. Why Are So Many Climbers in Trouble on Mount Hood This Year. The Eternal Decision, A Shoulder Season Ski Traverse: Three People, Three Sleep Systems, Springtime Primer: Securing Skis/Splitboard to a Bike Frame, Choices in the Wasatch: the DPS 94 C2 and DPS 100 RP. @2020 - All Rights Reserved. OurEpicPromise ProgressReportdetails this commitment, including $19.4 million donated to community partners thispast year and our advancement toward a zero net operating footprint by 2030. For more vert, continue skinning two miles west to the summit above Skyline Lake, where you can drop into steep south-facing bowls that yield a thousand vertical feet of nicely spaced old-growth pines. After 15 days of perfect pow, great friends and turns with Louie, it will be a while before Lou stops grinning. Drive SR-2 to Stevens Pass (4,000 ft). Pacia. Get to planning your trip and enjoy the most time on the mountain! Yodelin, a ski area that was retired in the 1960s, sits just northeast of Stevens Pass, and the parking lot, open glades, and liberally spaced trees still remain. Beautiful stuff! Sketchy weather? Six to eight hundred feet of vert later, youll drop down to an old logging road that leads back to where you started. Sign up to receive our newsletter packed with the best adventure guides, travel ideas, news, and articles. updates, images, or resources. In fact before you even leave home, matching the conditions of the day to an appropriate trip can make all the difference in whether the avalanche risk before youcan be easily managed or whether youre playing Russian Roulette with loaded slopes. Its much more like skiing in Colorado than Washington. Backcountry riding does require a certain degree of fitness. Lisa.

are you sure those were in the Cascades? The Stevens Pass Bike Park will be opening on July 28 for Bike Park Pass Holders and open on July 29 for the general public! Unbelievably beautiful photographs! There are parking lots on the east and west sides of the pass. The first look at these scenes takes my breath away. The conversion must be complete! After this little soujourn on Stevens, Lisa and I said goodbye to Louie and headed back to Colorado. If your request is not time sensitive, please email us at seasonpass@vailresorts.com. All rights reserved.

Its probably time for me to replace my Scarpa Lasers. Once the snow starts to get tracked out inside the ski area you will head outside the boundary ropes to explore new terrain.

Once youve decided on a general destination (Stevens Pass, Icicle Canyon, Blewett Pass, Mission Ridge area), open up our online Skiing-Backcountry guidebook and use the geographic locators and the tour difficulty numbers to identify possible tours. In this photo Louie is enjoying a pair of Kamchatka Salopette, meaning full side-zip bibs that are nice and minimalist. All Rights Reserved. 176S. Log in and send us We remain committed to doing everything we can to help keep you safe this season, so you can focus on having a great time on the mountain. 1 from NCMG on Vimeo.

If you are new to backcountry riding please make sure you are familiar with your gear prior to your day out in the backcountry. Blewett Pass offers some amazing skiing and often holds cold, boot-top powder on the shady aspects. Get special offers, resort updates and snow alerts. We hop, Sometimes you ride a bike, other times you push a, Its a beautiful day to be in the mountains! Skin about 2.5 miles up an old access road (go left at the first fork) that leads to a saddle at 4,800 feet.

3) Theres been a foot of snow at Stevens Pass and only 2 inches of new snow at Mission Ridge (not unusual).

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who made our trip so magical. These guys make some of our favorite stuff, and this year it all gets even better. How Can You Monitor All This? For inquiries specific to resort offerings such as lessons or general questions please reach out to the resort directly: As an Epic Pass holder, you get 20% off food, lodging, lessons, rentals, and more. Stuart. 2. Summer Activities , opens in a new window. Visit Pro Mountain Sports in Seattle (206-522-1627), run by renowned Cascade climber Jim Nelson. For extremes, we have the two very different snow and climatic conditions of Stevens Pass to the west on the Cascade Crest and Blewett Pass/Mission Ridge over 40 air miles east of the crest. Snowmobile-AssistedBackcountry -We have several zones to choose from when using snowmobiles. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North Americas highest mountain. you can take at this route/place.

It had, Have you been up Jacobson trail as of late? More than almost any place in the country, Central Washington has a choice of extremes and in-betweens.

Designed and Developed by WildSnow, Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings Info Index, Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings Info Index, Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings Info Index, Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ, Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ. 2 from NCMG on Vimeo. Please contact us for more details. This is the first area to get tracked out as you can be on top of your line in under two hours.

WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. Maybe it just needs a lot more snow. The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Mountaineers teaches skills and leads outdoor activities I envy your vision and scenery. I am sorry I missed seeing you both this time around. If daytime temperatures have remained below freezing, the Stevens Pass backcountry could be stellar especially on north-facing slopes. Once the lifts start spinning you will hop on the chair and head to where the best snow is.

Under the Condition Reports heading see the Weather & Road link. This is a list of titles that represent the variations of trips For example, if you want to see all the Blewett Pass area ski tours, click the Blewett Pass check box and the total number of ski tours will be filtered down to that area. Randonnee Ski Touring AT ski gear What is Hip? In the matrix that displays, the right-hand column (Ski Area Weather) lets you access a weeklong forecast for backcountry destinations around the region. First sun since October. It does not exist. The short approach combines with great tree skiing to make Yodelin one of the best backcountry options in the area on storm days. For more about Lou, please see his personal website at https://www.loudawson.com/ (Blogger stats: 5 foot 10 inches (178 cm) tall, 160 lbs (72574.8 grams). Join Outside+ to get Ski magazine, access to exclusive content, thousands of training plans, and more. We were in that neighborhood as well.

There are no activities scheduled at this location. Learn more about the steps were taking for the 2021-22 season below.

The thinner snows and sunnier skies of the Blewett Pass area. Backcountry Skiing and Snowboarding With over 240 square miles of permitted terrain to choose from we can definitely find you the best snow and the coolest lines. From here, you can head east up the ridge toward the summit and ski the fall line slopes directly below the saddle through an old clear cut. After 1,500 vertical feet, youll hit the highway-the parking lot is about a mile back to the right, depending on where you pop out. In late winter and early spring the slopes are perfect training grounds for practicing ice axe arrest and other snow travel techniques. According to many maps Stevens Pass is the beginning of the North Cascades. Union? From the saddle you can ski gentle glades or continue up the ridge to access steep tree lines. Woody Dixon finds yet another patch of untracked Cascadian whiteness. Sign up for Outside+ today. A sordid history of logging and some variably successful development (including two ski resorts: Stevens Pass, which is up and running, and Yodelin, now defunct) means theres an abundance of clear-cuts and access roads-a blight on the landscape to be sure, but a blessing for skiers seeking easy skin-ups and open backcountry slopes. Road grades crisscross the area and allow for easy route finding and mellow skin tracks. Its a great way to start off the New Year. Perched on the crest of the range at 4,061 feet, the pass is a geographical anomaly, benefiting from both heavy snowfall out of the west (450 inches most years) and cold air flows from the east. These photos look awesome. From Rock Mountain to the west to Seven Fingered Jack to the east. Log in and send us document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); All Human Powered Sports! In fact, were thinking we might get to report on some rather disruptive gear along with rather good pastries, so stick around. More pre-trip videos can be found here - Pre-Trip Skiing Videos. Hopefully we will catch up with you in Colorado some time soon. Please respect the outdoors by practicing Leave No Trace. Even with the open boundary policy at adjacent Stevens Pass resort, the areas numerous backcountry bowls and chutes are rarely crowded. Happy New Year to you and Craig. The area features steep tree skiing found off the ridge, while open glades dot the lower slopes. If you are scheduling a course field trip. Get access to more than 30 brands, premium video, exclusive content, events, mapping, and more. Should you find yourself in Leavenworth-a faux-Bavarian town 45 minutes east of Stevens Pass where lederhosen are still de rigueur-be sure to stop by Uncle Ulis Pub (509-548-7262). Louie backcountry skiing Stevens Pass. The result is a deep and dry snowpack that lasts well into May. Its about more than standing on the mountain top. Find the most up to date information regarding operating hours for various services. The Mountain Loop Highway gives you access to everything. The 600- to 800-foot fall line runs are great for skiing laps throughout the day. Continuing east puts you at the base of another glade; ascend this glade to a gentle saddle on the ridge. Glad you had a good job, but quit posting photos of sun in Washington. Using snowmobiles to access more remote terrain allows us to make the most of the day and get away from the crowds. Today we tested some Mountain Equipment shells, but a water column eval was not to be. The access can be challenging heading up the White River Road into Glacier Peak Wilderness and up to Trinity. In contrast the access to the Chiwaukum Range and Nason Ridge is accessible all year.

We have been skiing in this zone for decades and know where to find the best lines. Ive also included some ski tours off of Mountain Loops Highway for additional options. Get Snow Reports from Ski Areas Worldwide with Gaia GPS, How to Time Your Backcountry Ski Tour to Harvest Perfect Spring Corn. Location: 86 miles northeast of Seattle Pass Elevation: 4,061 feet Vertical drop: Up to 1,500 feet Minimum Time Needed: 2 hours Method: Out-and-backTHE SCENE: Cradled deep in the Cascade Mountains off Highway 2, Stevens Pass offers a surprising variety of powder fixes-from full-day summit tours to concentrated drive-up sessions. Light and Fast or Fun and Functional? Cascadian farewell to WildSnow. updates, images, or resources. The upper links to Avalanche-Eastside and Avalalanche-Stevens give you the generalized avalanche report for the East Slopes of the Cascades and for the Cascade Crest around Stevens Pass. From Highway 2 on the east side you can find yourself on a ferry heading towards North Cascades National Park. Out of Bounds Skiing Explore the terrain surrounding the ski area with a local guide. The snowpack near Stevens Pass borders on the ridiculous as do the number of stormy days. can allow you to get out and enjoy a tour with good turns without exposing yourself to undue risks. Mountaineers Books is a registered trademark of The Mountaineers, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. and peak combinations. Note: one problem with this link is that after clicking the telemetry site you want to see, youll need to scroll down to find the actual graphs. Instead, the sky looked like Colorado but the ground looked like a glacier. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. We will be happy to help you learn backcountry skiing and snowboarding but we want to make sure you get the most out of your day. We have a wide variety of offerings at Stevens Pass from huge multi-peak ski mountaineering objectives to gravity-fed powder skiing inside and outside of the ropes of the ski area. Pre-Trip Briefing - Pt. I am so jealous of your experience that you can have. As for Uncle Uli himself, well, hes sort of a Snuffleupagus type: No one knows if he actually exists, but rumor has it that he stops in to spin an occasional yarn. Perfect day. *Not eligible for Bike Passes. People will still need to climb for their turns but the snowmobiles allow us to access terrain deeper in the mountains. That being said non of the tours around are considered easy access but the Monte Cristo Range to the North is a great area. We wish you equally wonderful adventures in 2013. Take a lesson, sample the bike park with a single day ticket, or purchase a season pass to ride all summer long. I also like the first picture of Louie better. Stevens Pass Bike Park is back and opening soon. The definition of shralping is never clear, but throwing Cascadian powder around does perhaps qualify.

Order a Jim Jack burger (its actually a chicken sandwich), so named in honor of a local freeskier who for some reason is known as the mayor of Altaa. Opened in 96 by T.R., a local ski bum and ex-Stevens Pass liftie, the pub pulls in outdoor jocks of all sorts. From this one site you can see weeklong graphs of whats taken place at Stevens (On the Pacific Crest) , at Tumwater Mountain (20 miles west of the crest) and at Mission Ridge (40 miles west of the crest). Knowing something about the general avalanche hazard in the surrounding mountains, the amount of new snow, the wind conditions, and the oncoming weather for the day ahead are all important in deciding upon the best place to ski. We can accommodate your day to your level of fitness, but the more you prepare, the more you will enjoy your day. WenatcheeOutdoors has several tools to help you quickly monitor weather and snow conditions around the region. A variety of terrain makes Yodelin fun for both beginners and experts. From scenic chairlift rides, guided hikes, disc golf and hiking we have a range of activities to suit all ages, whether you are planning a quick stop over on your way over the pass, or planning a day fun of adventure in the heart of the Cascades.

This is a great way to warm up the legs before heading into the backcountry. I like the first shot of Louie much better. Skiing on Cannon Mountain up the Icicle Canyon. Leave Seattle by 7 a.m., and by 9 youll be cherry-picking untracked chutes, bowls, and gladed slopes.THE DRIVE: From Seattle, drive north on I-5 to Everett, and then east on Highway 2 for 65 miles to Stevens Pass. Not seeing a title that fits your trip? A tweener destination. New gear, resort reviews, athlete interviews, and more. Mount PughSpire PointSchimitar Glacier Glacier PeakSauk River to Highway 2Whitehorse MountainGlacier Peak via Cool Glacier. When it snows hard and you are looking to get out as fast as possible this is the place to be.

Please use nearby Routes & Places like, Backcountry Skiing, Climbing, Downhill Skiing & Snowboarding, Scrambling, January, February, March, April, May, November, December. Really great photo though, with the distant mountains in the background. NCMG offers threetypes of backcountry experiences at Stevens Pass. Ill be at Hilda Hut in the Selkirks in a couple of weeks and I hope we have snow as good as you found. All NCMG staff are trained and supervised by owners Larry Goldie and Jeff Ward, who are IFMGA licensed Mountain Guides and Instructors/Examiners for the American Mountain Guides Association.